The Kenyan and South African governments are engaging with Ukrainian authorities regarding their nationals who say they are trapped in Donbas and other regions. 
The two governments are calling for the return of their citizens who were allegedly illegally recruited to fight in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict under the pretext of lucrative contracts.

In a statement, the South African Presidency said President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the recruitment of about 17 South African men, without specifying on which side they are fighting.

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, reiterated that South African law prohibits its citizens from providing military assistance to foreign governments or fighting in foreign conflicts without state authorisation.
Kenya’s President William Ruto took to social media to announce that he had requested President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine to facilitate the release of any Kenyan in Ukrainian custody.

This followed a telephone conversation between the two leaders, during which they discussed what President Ruto described as various issues of mutual interest between their peoples and countries, including concerns over Kenyans who have been illegally recruited to fight in the conflict.

It remains unclear how many Kenyan nationals have been recruited, but reports suggest they may be in camps in both Russia and Ukraine.